The NFL*'s Competition: Other Sports Leagues

Okay, as we all know we're way down the rabbit hole on all things Deflategate.

Wherever we were when we kicked off this dog-and-pony show, I wonder whether the big boys had already caught a whiff of the FIFA bust that came down today.

I'm actually anti-conspiratorial. I think sometimes the timing of things just lines up. In addition, there's no NFL* foothold in Europe to speak of (or elsewhere in the world).

But today's FIFA events interleave nicely with a relatively conflict-free NFL*. ("Sure we had our problems, but we didn't award the Super Bowl to Key West because they paid a bunch of officials on the side.")

Honestly? I don't think there's a connection. The "Worldwide NFL*" concept is a long, long effort.

Still, reading these pages day after day... it makes ya wonder

I wonder if muddying the FIFA public image helps the NFL's image in Europe. I personally think a London team would be cool, even if it's somewhat of a logistical nightmare.

PatsFanInVa said:

Okay, as we all know we're way down the rabbit hole on all things Deflategate.

Wherever we were when we kicked off this dog-and-pony show, I wonder whether the big boys had already caught a whiff of the FIFA bust that came down today.

I'm actually anti-conspiratorial. I think sometimes the timing of things just lines up. In addition, there's no NFL* foothold in Europe to speak of (or elsewhere in the world).

But today's FIFA events interleave nicely with a relatively conflict-free NFL*. ("Sure we had our problems, but we didn't award the Super Bowl to Key West because they paid a bunch of officials on the side.")

Honestly? I don't think there's a connection. The "Worldwide NFL*" concept is a long, long effort.

Still, reading these pages day after day... it makes ya wonder

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Just a side note to say that I love the idea of putting asterisks next to the NFL name. I would love to see that become a standard around Patriots Nation to show how we feel the NFL is now a fraudulent enterprise.

I'm a big fan of conspiracy theories myself - any shred of evidence of something sinister and i;ve got somewhere between 25-30 shady scenarios good to go.

Having said all that, drawing a tangent between the NFL* and the FIFA busts is a long shot to say the least - in no way are these organisations in any type of head-to-head conflict - their customer bases are very different.

FIFA is right up there with the Olympic committee and the Jets front office in terms of magnitude of corruption - the 7 fall guys are just that - I guess some people will think that all they have left in FIFA now is the straighter shooters (ha ha).

Ross12 said:

I wonder if muddying the FIFA public image helps the NFL's image in Europe.

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The FIFA public image could NOT be dirtier among European fans. Everyone is convinced that the World Cup has been allocated by bribery, so the fact that a fiscal authority has some kind of traction against them is, for most people here, a welcome surprise. But, of course, the re-election of the spider at the center of the web will go ahead -- it's "business as usual" in FIFA-land.

EDIT: If you'd have asked me, the way that so-called "democratic" control of clubs and leagues works in Europe would be a good argument for the owners' consortium plus powerful commissioner model that the U.S. sports leagues use. Of course, watching that be abused by a nitwit and a bunch of jealous mediocrities has sapped any confidence in that either.

livinginthe past said:

drawing a tangent between the NFL* and the FIFA busts is a long shot to say the least

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But it will be discussed.
Media has been starved for a story,
from bored sports people,
to the pol class, desperate for a distraction.
Narrative reinforcement.

The discussion includes obvious dominant
behind closed door big money
and an all powerful frontman.
Same thing. Different Fiefdom.

It will focus conversation on the organizations.

One of the questions at a press conference a moment ago was comparisons
to NFL Culture.
********
Perceptions about corruption differ.
I agree with Brit Mike's perception that FIFA is corrupt, as all things Euro.
Not mainstream in the US, wrt sport.
This combines with US reluctance to blame refs.
Still seen as sore loser stuff. Just play better.

But inevitably, torrents of trolls will claim the NFL is of course fixed, corrupt too.
Explains a lot of losing, to losers.
Lovely conspiracy theories.

The big deal for our interest is the NFL does not want this discussion.
More motive to not go to court vs Brady.
*************

an issue that needs some attention.
Projected $500 Million fee to move a team to LA.
What is this? FIFA like, really.

We don't like it, but a nice pile of cash will make it okay.

Expect folks in St L, Jagville, San Diego, Oakland,
and the old guard in Cleveland to get this.
Not feeling the love.
***********
FIFA indictments are a warning to other sports leagues, including NFL
Posted by Mike Florio on May 27, 2015, 9:37 AM EDT
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...arning-to-other-sports-leagues-including-nfl/

The Gr8est said:

Just a side note to say that I love the idea of putting asterisks next to the NFL* name. I would love to see that become a standard around Patriots Nation to show how we feel the NFL* is now a fraudulent enterprise.

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Thank you, but FYP - it starts here

Sorry but the very thought that the NFL has any connection whatsoever with the FIFA busts is laughably stupid. Like, hilariously stupid. For as powerful as the NFL is, FIFA is more powerful by at least an order of magnitude. Goodell would piss his pants dealing with the dangerously shady characters that FIFA deals with on a daily basis they are so unbelievably corrupt.

Seriously, stop being dumb trying to compare the two. The NFL sucks is and is both morally and fiscally corrupt but its on a micro level compared to FIFA. Corruption in the NFL means covering up domestic abuse and concussion lawsuits. Corruption in FIFA means accepting billions of dollars in bribes from nations which headline the yearly lists of Human Rights Violations. Bribes from countries known for literally harboring terrorist organizations and war criminals. Right now in Quatar thousands of indentured migrant laborers are dying building these stadiums in the middle of a desert because FIFA allowed them to buy their World Cup bid. FIFA is horrid and deserves to go down and every single fan of the sport of soccer would agree.

There are some FIFA officials who deserve to be literally tried at The Hague and people here are comparing it to allowing the Jets to tamper with a player. Get some perspective.

Ross12 said:

I wonder if muddying the FIFA public image helps the NFL's image in Europe. I personally think a London team would be cool, even if it's somewhat of a logistical nightmare.

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Muddying Fifa's image will make no difference. Soccer fans are diehard fans of teams and teams alone.

Every man and his dog knows Fifa is as corrupt an organisation as you can find. It's not something new.

PatsFanInVa said:

Okay, as we all know we're way down the rabbit hole on all things Deflategate.

Wherever we were when we kicked off this dog-and-pony show, I wonder whether the big boys had already caught a whiff of the FIFA bust that came down today.

Click to expand...

I can't say I am following that story closely, but when I heard them talking about FIFA taking bribes to decide who will host the World Cup, I have to admit it reminded me of the NFL taking bribes to decide who will host the Super Bowl.

The NFL rewards municipalities that publicly finance new stadiums for their billionaire owners. It may not be the exact same thing going on in soccer, but it's not entirely different either.

I think the reasons the USA "done it" in relation to FIFA's corruption (which everyone who follows football at all has known about forever) is because they know they could make an absolute fortune out of the WC in 22 if they were to host it. America, or pretty much any country in Western Europe where football is the main sport, are the perfect World Cup hosts, they have the infrastructure, the stadiums, the big cities - it would cost them pennies to host (you could host it in the North East easily). Any idiot could see that the WC's should have been awarded to a country like Spain, America, Canada, Italy, England etc. But Qatari's (and prob Russians aswell) paid the officials a tonne so they got it.

CelticPatriot said:

I think the reasons the USA "done it" in relation to FIFA's corruption (which everyone who follows football at all has known about forever) is because they know they could make an absolute fortune out of the WC in 22 if they were to host it. America, or pretty much any country in Western Europe where football is the main sport, are the perfect World Cup hosts, they have the infrastructure, the stadiums, the big cities - it would cost them pennies to host (you could host it in the North East easily). Any idiot could see that the WC's should have been awarded to a country like Spain, America, Canada, Italy, England etc. But Qatari's (and prob Russians aswell) paid the officials a tonne so they got it.

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Got a problem with countries in the southern hemisphere mate?

ausbacker said:

Got a problem with countries in the southern hemisphere mate?

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Ha! I was actually going to put Australia in but left it out cause my knowledge of Australian sport is awful and have no idea how much stadiums they have. But yeah Australia aswell if it pleases you.

ausbacker said:

Got a problem with countries in the southern hemisphere mate?

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Look, we told you- until you get rid of the Vegemite sandwiches we're not letting you into our club.

Bobsyouruncle said:

Look, we told you- until you get rid of the Vegemite sandwiches we're not letting you into our club.

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You're either brainwashed or drunk if you enjoy Vegemite.

ausbacker said:

You're either brainwashed or drunk if you enjoy Vegemite.

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Which is why it's such a big hit in Oz, right?

livinginthe past said:

Which is why it's such a big hit in Oz, right?

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Ha! Ha! (Says the guy heading to the airport for a trip to Upside-Down Land.)

ausbacker said:

Got a problem with countries in the southern hemisphere mate?

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Hey Aus, is the whole board circling the drain in the other direction from down there?

The NHL is a great league and hockey is a great sport, it's up there equal with the NFL in my mind.

The Sabols firmly entrenched the drama and lust for the NFL and I have said many times on this board that past and current players owe them a lot. In an American market where the media is in your face 24-7, the League has certainly been the beneficiary.

The NHL does not have the cinematography of the Sabols, but the sport and the League are doing very well, rivaling the NBA finals.

It's a great sport, very fast, hard hitting and tough and the league showcases that while keeping scandals to a minimum..

FIFA/NFL
Monopoly.
Unassailable, all powerful figure at the top.

Not transparent.
Neither is truly legitimate, independent authority.
Fronts for big money interests.

Public disenchantment with both.

Greatness of the games distracts folks
necessary evils?

***
Example of NFL transparency:
Projected $500,000,000 fee to move a team to LA.
Different from Qatar paying to host the World Cup.
A fee is not a bribe.

Taxpayer funded stadiums?
Nice team, be a shame if something happened to it.

How the NFL Fleeces Taxpayers
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/10/how-the-nfl-fleeces-taxpayers/309448/
****************

Rationale for salary cap.
How much you guys make?

The N.F.L.’s league office will drop its tax-exempt status...
As a result, the league will no longer have to publicly
disclose its tax returns, which include the salaries of its top executives,
including Commissioner Roger Goodell.

APRIL 28, 2015
After Much Criticism, N.F.L.’s League Office Drops Tax-Exempt Status
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/29/s...ffice-to-drop-its-tax-exempt-status.html?_r=0

Near the table:

Why college kids become the property of a billionaire.

Personal Conduct Policy. Goodell's love child.
Fight over right to work.

What is the basis for awarding Super Bowl locations?